cleaning, lapping ML bore?

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  • Slackdaddy

    My pronouns: Iva/Bigun
    Jan 1, 2019
    5,849
    I have 2 HR sidekick Muzzle Loaders.
    One is S.S. and the bullets press down the bore with ease.

    The other is a blued barrel that I bought used cheap in marginal shape.
    It is a straight shooter and my favorite ML,,
    Problem is it is a bear to get the sabot-ed bullets down compared to it's S.S. brother.
    I am not changing bullets.

    What is an economical way to "clean" the bore/rifling up?
    I do clean and oil the gun religiously, so it is not "dirty"

    Thanks
    Slack
     

    Slackdaddy

    My pronouns: Iva/Bigun
    Jan 1, 2019
    5,849
    I would say it is rough, yes.
    It was sold to me cheap because it was rough.
    I know "cleaning it up" will be possibly loosing some depth of the rifling,, but I am willing to risk that. it is an "under" 80 yards woods gun. and currently very accurate despite the challenge loading it.

    Is the bore rough? Or is it just tight?
     

    newmuzzleloader

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Apr 14, 2009
    4,765
    joppa
    Change sabots to a thinner wall. I have 2 of the exact same Savage front loaders and one was a bear to load with the recommended sabot. I switched to a thinner wall sabot and it loads a lot easier and is is just as accurate.

    Different Loaded Diameter

    The big difference between*Black*HPH/12*and*HPH/24*is that the*HPH/24*is .002” smaller in loaded diameter (the diameter of sabot with a bullet inserted). With a .452 diameter bullet the*HPH/12*is .507-.508” diameter, the*HPH/24*is .505”-.506” diameter. If you have a tight loading rifle you may want to choose the HPH24 or if you have a very tight rifle, consider our 3Petal-EZ.

    https://mmpsabots.com/store/hph-sabot-series/
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,881
    Answer #1 - What Newmuzzleloader just said

    Answer #2 - If it shoots accurately , stop complaining, and just push harder on ramrod .
     

    pre64hunter

    Active Member
    Mar 19, 2010
    643
    Harford County
    Been There, Done That

    I had the same thing when my son was younger, he came home with a Wolverine be proudly purchased used from a pawn shop.
    I lapped the bore and it's been 20 years ago so the details are fuzzy.

    I plugged the bore an inch or so from the muzzle.
    Put a cleaning brush in the bore with the threaded end sticking out.
    Poured hot lead in it and made a plug/casting of the bore, it was about 5/8" long. Warning: hot lead is dangerous, the barrel will get hot and any that spills will hurt you.
    I put the plug on a stout cleaning rod and applied lapping compound.
    Pushed it through the bore many times.
    It helped a good bit and made the thing useable.

    I thought that if I had to do it again, first I'd try drilling the proper size hole through a hollow point saboted bullet, put the proper size screw through the hole and thread it onto a cleaning rod. Put lapping compound on the sabot. You probably could use a piece of all-thread and tape it up as not to damage the crown or bore.
    I fire lap cartridge guns with good success but that would be too much labor, time consuming and costly for a black powder gun.
    NOTE: I'm just a ham n egger, this is just giving you an idea. Just because I did doesn't mean it's a good idea. You are responsible for your own actions!
    Probably google it or send me a PM. Good Luck.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    Shooting round balls that have been patched with a heavy paper like that brown envelope type/ not the heavier manila has worked for me.
    Just make sure the paper patch is not folded over itself excessively when loading and the ball diameter tends have some extra clearance or it can become cut/torn off when starting.
     

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